Make: Colt
Model: Government Model
Serial Number: C89177
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a flat-top "U"-notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece wood. The left panel has finger-grooves and a thumb-shelf for a right-handed shooter, mounted with paper shims over the screw bushings. The right panel is full-checkered. The left panel has some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The right panel has even handling wear with generally well defined checkering. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished. The slide has the serial number marked on the bottom, not a standard marking. The barrel is an M1911A1-style replacement, not marked. Some other parts may have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 9/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly handling wear in the grip areas. There is some light wear at the leading edges of the slide. The finish is otherwise generally strong with a few scattered light marks. There is infrequent minor erosion under the finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished and not all parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a canvas web-belt with magazine pouch, a pouch with a Wilford Hall Individual Dressing Packet in paper packaging, M1916 holster, lanyard and a single 7-round magazine with lanyard-loop floorplate. The magazine has cracks at the rear of the right feed lip.
Our Assessment: The 1911 and 1911-A1 pistols served the military of the United States from 1911 to 1985, through two World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They gained a reputation as a reliable handgun with plenty of stopping power, and are held in high regard by those who have used them. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of "the slide", which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns. Having secured a contract for the US Military sidearm, Colt also offered the pistol to the commercial market as the "Government Model".
This is a fairly early Colt commercial Government Model made in 1917 during WWI. The pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished, having a later production replacement barrel and custom grips installed. Some markings are intriguing such as the serial marking on the bottom of the slide, not a standard factory marking. Also interesting is the "G" marking on the top of the frame, typical of Government contract pistols rather than commercial sales. It has commercial markings, no martial inspection marks, and we were not able to find a reference showing this serial as one of the rare Commercial/Military pistols sold to the Army during the war. All of the old 1911 Colts are collectable, and we are sure this isn't going to be an exception, and it will display well with the included belt and holster rig. Please see our pictures and good luck!
